Emirates Airlines has struck a $16 billion deal with Airbus to buy 36 A380 superjumbos just days after the European manufacturer said it would have to halt production without new orders.

The company said it had placed firm orders for 20 of the double-decker aircraft with options for a further 16. Deliveries are scheduled to start in 2020.

Emirates is already the world’s biggest customer for the A380 with 101 in its fleet and 41 more firm orders previously placed. The order comes just days after Airbus sounded alarm bells on the future of the A380.

Al-Maktoum said the new order will provide stability to the A380 production line.

He said: “We’ve made no secret of the fact that the A380 has been a success for Emirates. Our customers love it, and we’ve been able to deploy it on different missions across our network, giving us flexibility in terms of range and passenger mix.”

The Dubai-based airline said that with the new order, it will have commitments for a total of 178 A380s worth $60 billion.

The deal was expected to be signed during the Dubai Airshow in November but was delayed without any explanation amid reports of tough negotiations. Instead, Emirates inked a deal to buy 40 Boeing Dreamliners for more than $15 billion.

Airbus’s decision in 2007 to pursue the A380, capable of packing in 853 seats, was diametrically opposed to Boeing’s bet on the Dreamliner, marketed as a more efficient plane that could be used for both medium and long-distance flights.

But the economics of the A380 have proved daunting, with airlines having to operate every flight at full capacity in order to make a profit.

Airbus warned recently that it might have to end production of the A380, having booked no new orders for the plane in two years. The Emirates order should see the A-380 programme through the next decade or more

It said it regarded Emirates as the only airline with the capacity to place an order of the size required to keep production going.

Leahy said: “Quite honestly, if we can’t work out a deal with Emirates there is no choice but to shut down the programme.”

The company said it needed to build at least six of the aircraft per year for the programme to remain viable.

Leahy, however, seemed relieved that Airbus’ strategy of staring down Emirates appeared to have paid off, saying the programme was now good to go on for at least another decade.

“This new order underscores Airbus’ commitment to produce the A380 at least for another 10 years. I’m personally convinced more orders will follow Emirates’ example and that this great aircraft will be built well into the 2030s,” Leahy said.

Airbus is hoping China will lead a revival in orders once demand for long-haul planes picks up, arguing that the plane is ideally suited for mass-market travel and for heavily congested airports.

Emirates operates a fleet of 269 wide-bodied aircraft and flies to 157 destinations. Airbus said it has delivered 222 A380s to 13 airlines so far.